Rifle Build: FAL or FAiL

[codygjohnson]

So after a bit of a busy spell, I've finally been able to do some work on the FAL kit.

After some deep thought (and lots of FALfiles searching...) I decided to go with a 16" carbine version of the old beast. So I got everything cleaned up and got started. After a little internal struggle with receiver choices, I called the guys over at Coonan and let them talk me into buying one of theirs.

During the wait, I pulled the barrel off the old stub using a bit of ingenuity and some elbow-grease. Had to split the old threads to get it to budge:


Then chucked the barrel up in the lathe and got to cutting:


Crowned:


And threaded 1/2-28 for an AR flash suppressor (got a ton of them laying around and LH threads are TOUGH!!!):


When the receiver hits the ground (should be any minute!!!), I'll get rolling on the rest...

 

[Charlie]

Keep us posted (with pics) 'cause I'd love to build one in the future!

 

[codygjohnson]

This is my first FAL, but knock on wood, it seems REALLY straight forward. Almost as easy as an AR. We'll see... Hopefully I'll have it up by Saturday morning for some range time!

 

[codygjohnson]

Receiver is here!


Assembly in progress...

 

[codygjohnson]

Barrel isn't timing right. Back to the lathe for some shoulder turning! This is getting interesting.

 

[codygjohnson]

Cut a hair off the shoulder and it's timing just right:

Not too shabby!

Now to torque the barrel and get everything aligned, then install the locking shoulder and check the headspace...

 

[dobarker]

You're making me envious of the build and tools. I wish I had a lathe. I'll just have to pay you eleventy billion dollars to do it for me. Looks good, don't forget to post the final product.

 

[Rum Runner]

Yeah really...

"it seems REALLY straight forward. Almost as easy as an AR."
I want to build an AR sooner or later...hope I don't need the lathe!

Thanks for letting us be voyeurs though! Looks like a cool project.

 

[codygjohnson]

Yeah really...

"it seems REALLY straight forward. Almost as easy as an AR."
I want to build an AR sooner or later...hope I don't need the lathe!
Thanks for letting us be voyeurs though! Looks like a cool project.

Haha! You should be alright. I seem to be hitting every snag possible in an FAL build.

 

[codygjohnson]

Barrel went together without a hitch. Drove in the locking shoulder and it closed near perfect on the go-gauge. A bit tighter than I like, but still looks like I'm going to be good to go! I'm going to package it up and drop it off to get parkerized in the morning. If I was smart, I'd give it a test fire, I know, but I'm feeling a bit reckless and I'm pretty confident in the rifles design. It's certainly a well built rifle.

Meanwhile, I've got boxes from Midway and DSA with all my compliance parts that came in this week to go through.

 

[codygjohnson]

Bored a YHM SC2 flash suppressor in the drill press to work with the .308. Ready to go on after the rifle gets park'd.

 

[codygjohnson]

Prepped, parkerized and just came out of the oil bath. The new finish came out absolutely amazing! It looks like a new rifle. All of my compliance parts were here so I'll start assembling and update the thread with some pics! Looks like I might be toting this one to the range tomorrow...

 

[Rum Runner]

Eagerly awaiting pics.

 

[codygjohnson]

Looks like it's not going to the range tomorrow with me. Appearantly, the charging handle was "lost" during the parkerizing process...and no one can look for it until Tuesday(really?) Crap! Oh well.

Here's what I've got so far:


Crappy pics, but I'm taking them with my phone. I threw some neat plastic junk and doo-dads on it to make it look all tacticool or whatever. What can I say? It was a big box that came from Midway...hahaha! Yeah I know the rail covers aren't snapped on all the way...I also know they are a pain to get back off when they are snapped together and it has to be disassembled again to get the charging handle on.

 

[codygjohnson]

Details

Yankee Hill SC2 Ar15 Flash Suppressor bored for the .308:

It's a bit small for a .308, but it's one of the best I've used on ARs, so I'm hoping it will help battle the short FALs muzzle blast.

Front Sight:

It's a bit short for my taste, so I may narrow the post up a bit if the sight picture doesn't look right. Still, this rifle has great sights for a non US battle rifle.

Gas regulator:

Now this is pretty cool. The splined nut adjusts to ensure proper function with whatever ammo I'm using. You can also turn the whole gas system off with a turn of the nut on the front. FN really designed this rifle well.

Rear sight:

I went with a DSA Para Sight as it's just like the A2 style sights I'm used to and seems much sturdier than the original rear sight.

Receiver/top cover:

The Coonan Type III receiver looks great and fit perfect with the Imbel kit. I went with a DSA extended scope mount as I'm starting to get slow picking up irons and I wanted the option of having optics. The slotted screws that came with the cover were a tad short and made from the softest metal on earth and hugs...but a trip to the fastener shop got that fixed in 10 minutes. New button head socket screws just a bit longer worked perfect. Torqued to 25 in/lbs and ready to go. The cover is semi-permanent as you don't have to remove it to disassemble the rifle. That was a big selling point on putting optics on a battle rifle. This is one of the better platforms to do it with, almost as good as an AR.

 

[codygjohnson]

Specs (so far):

Coonan Type III Receiver
Imbel Kit
DSA Extended "Extreme Duty" Scope Mount/Top Cover
DSA Para Rear Sight
DSA X-Series OD Green Stock
DSA OD Green Pistol Grip
Falcon Ind. Trigger
Falcon Ind. Sear
Falcon Ind. Hammer
Falcon Ind. TPR Spring Set
YHM SC2 Flash Suppressor
UTG Railed Handguard (What can I say? It was cheap and more functional than the standard handguards...)

 

[codygjohnson]

I still need to figure out a sling and what all accessories/optics I'm going to keep on this rifle.

 

[cuate]

You Sir, are a gunsmith for certain. I hope she shoots straight and faultlessly ! Thanks for the photos.

 

[Rum Runner]

Sweet. Nice looking work. Looking forward to the range report.

 

[Jason]

What are we looking at ballpark $$$ for parts minus the optics???